(Poor kid. He didn’t even get a chance to go on a three-fight losing streak. Photo courtesy of MMAFighting.com)

Following his submission loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 22, TUF 8lightweight winner Efrain Escudero has been released from his UFC contract. Escudero confirmed the news last night via Twitter, writing "I was released by the Ufc today speaking to strikeforce and bellator. Taking a week off and make my way back!!!!!"

Escudero becomes just the second Ultimate Fighter-winner to be pink-slipped in the show’s five-and-a-half-year history; TUF 4‘s Travis Luttergot canned in April 2008. TUF winners tend to get a lot of leeway in their UFC careers — check out the spotty records of guys like Mac Danzig and Kendall Grove — but missing weight and garbage-ass performances will get you on the UFC’s bad side no matter who you are. Escudero struck out big time last week when he missed weight by an unacceptable four pounds, then lost to an up-and-comer in a fight that was entertaining despite Efrain’s best efforts to stall.

We’re sure Effy will land on his feet, and may even battle his way back to the UFC one day. But between this and Todd Duffee‘s firing two weeks ago, it seems like the UFC is becoming less interested in giving second (or third) chances to fighters who aren’t performing up to expectations.

The UFC is wondering why payper view sales arent doing to well these days. WELL THIS IS WHY. Wants the point of watching MIXED Material Arts if the MIXED is missing. We now being subjected to paying $50 a month for nothing. And if your arguement is its all part of the sport thats fucking BS and you know it, these guys are taking it to far and taking advantage of a flawed scoring system. I miss buying payper views and actually seeing fights. Exciting fast paced fight, with punches, kicks, takedowns, sub attempts, you know MMA. But now i watching the first half of gay porn when UFC comes on. Idk what Dana White is thinking letting go of exciting fighters. Whats the point of a great record when no one gives a shit about them because they are boring as hell. Roger Huerta is the biggest disapointment to me watch all of his fights they are fucking great fights, he should have payed and kept him. BUT NO he would rather pay Rashad evens 6 figures to watch him lay on top of everyone and do nothing.

dranokills- September 22, 2010 at 10:15 am

I don't believe that conspiracy horseshit for one second. Seriously I don't care how much armfarmer believes this shit, it holds no water with me.
peddle that crap elsewhere.

Shane Darwin- September 21, 2010 at 1:52 pm

I'm not going to go into it too much but I will say that more often than not, on the rare occasions there is a fix, one of the fighters will not be in on it. Only the loser needs to know the fight is thrown.

Many of the fights in MMA that have been thrown were done by the sponsoring organization. If you think that Pride was an honest company run by decent folks, then you're pretty naive. The UFC is a lot better, but it's still a bunch of fairly amoral toughs - it's the fight business, after all!

In his "Big Book of Basketball", Bill Simmons tacitly admits that David Stern tampered with results - "engaged in WWE tactics". Likewise, while I think that while Dana White truly loves the sport of MMA, he has "engaged in WWE tactics" from time to time.

While I won't name sources on the UFC bit here, I will say I knew one of the participants in the Donaghy scandal personally. You'd be surprised at how much goes on behind the scenes in pro sports at high levels.

Duffee threw his fight all on his own though, because he is a dumbass. He wasn't let go because he didn't get along with Dana (come on, TONS of fighters don't), he wasn't let go because he had one loss...He was cut because some Vegas slimebag told him how much money he could make. "Locker room bonuses" my ass, only select fighters get those, Duffee wasn't going to see any real money from the UFC for some time, and he fell for the temptation. Of course, the Ferttitas found out, because you don't become casino owners in Vegas without knowing a lot of people. The UFC is VERY viligant against unsanctioned fight-fixing, and they always ask around after a suspicious result.

Hank Mardukis- September 21, 2010 at 10:39 am

@ jimbonics

Fuck Yeah! Tamdan was the shit. And he came out to Dimmu!

ArmFarmer- September 21, 2010 at 10:37 am

Shane, I'm really curious what other fights you are talking about.. are you at liberty to share that info annonymously? You can email me if you want. I'm just curious cuz I always argue against people saying fights were fixed. Usually it's some retarded shit like Kimbo/pet. or Griffin/Silva.. which I think would be silly fights to fix in the first place for a lot of reasons (kimbo/seth was a last minute replacement for example).

The only fight I've ever seen that I thought might be a fix was big nob/heath herring. It was just inexplicable how bad he had nog hurt and then just allowed him to recover.

RwilsonR- September 21, 2010 at 10:37 am

Like most things that are "hecho in Mexico", Efrain Escudero didn't function as promised.

ArmFarmer- September 21, 2010 at 10:33 am

@MKO

I've seen it stated here by commenters numerous times.. "way to throw away your career".. things like that.. I'm too lazy to go back and find quotes for you but I've seen it at least several times.

I also agree with you on the Sherk thing.. I'm one of the few people that think the guy is just that much of a beast.. and hard worker. Frankly the whole way they measure for that particular situation sounds retarded to me.. can't remember exactly but it was something like "a normal athelete should only have 3 x, sherk tested for 6 x, that's double the norm!". That's just an example and no where near accurate, but it just struck me as odd that you can bust someone like Sherk for roids because they have more testosterone.. or whatever chemical it was.. than a normal athelete.

Shane Darwin- September 21, 2010 at 10:09 am

@ Video

Yes, I have sources but none that I'd reveal.

The UFC is not the cleanest of sports. It wasn't the first thrown fight, nor will it be the last. There's a lot more money in "gambling" than the few thousand bucks fighters get from the UFC.

MoTropolis- September 21, 2010 at 9:39 am

**Also in full support of the return of Barn Cat.

MKO- September 21, 2010 at 9:33 am

Who's saying Sonnen's career is over? I don't like the bastard, but big deal, let's see what his excuse is first. Sylvia and Bonnar both admitted to using, took their suspension, came back. Sherk likely was fucked over by the CSAC's shitty handling of tests (two other guys tested positive for the same steroid, in decreasing amounts (Sherk being the lowest)).
As for Alves, fuck him. Coming in ridiculously overweight for the Hughes fight then missing weight again. I believe he was busted for an illegal diuretic, and would make sense for him trying to cut weight rather than mask roids, but either way, fuck that dude.

dranokills- September 21, 2010 at 8:56 am

I think it is great he got fired, they have enough bottom feeders in the UFC as it is. And each season we keep at least 3 or 4 more to add to the total. You are as good as your last fight, and his last fight was a fucking joke, you wanna be a joke go fight for strikefarce.

Videodrome_NOW- September 21, 2010 at 8:41 am

@Shane
Do you have any sources that support your claim? It sounds intriguing enough. Do you really think he planned to get knocked out in the third?

BryanF- September 21, 2010 at 8:41 am

I checked the Barn Cat's wikipedia page. Allegedly, he has a twin sister named Tegan that's a model...*shudder*

Shane Darwin- September 21, 2010 at 8:27 am

@Armfarmer,

He threw it, made a lot of money, and word got back to the Ferttitas.

That's why he cut after losing one fight.

PortlandMMA- September 21, 2010 at 8:02 am

It was really only a matter of time since he's Drew Ficket's protege.

ArmFarmer- September 21, 2010 at 7:44 am

and I'll cosign.. bring back the cat!

Videodrome_NOW- September 21, 2010 at 7:35 am

Tamdan McCrory is the man.....mainly because he likes Metalocalypse. That's badass.

ArmFarmer- September 21, 2010 at 7:35 am

To add to the Alves comment.. he also popped positive.. which I think is amusing with all the "chael's ufc career is over!" chatter. Yeah, Alves can miss weight multiple times and get popped for peds, but Chael will never fight again! Same with Sherk and Franca.. they never got another fight after.. wait.. Well Bonnar.. um.. Tim Sylvia? Nvm...

Also in reference to the Alves comment.. you are saying the ufc is unreasonable for letting go of Efrain and not Alves? The ONLY thing those 2 have in common is missing weight.. when Efrain starts knocking people's blocks off, destroying top competition, and getting title shots.. then they might cut him some slack. When he's getting subbed by ufc noobs? Not so much. Perfectly reasonable to me.

jimbonics- September 21, 2010 at 7:26 am

Bring back the Barn Cat!

MoTropolis- September 21, 2010 at 7:23 am

And I dont think its that big of a deal when UFC releases young fighters who show potential. If anything, it prolly lights a fire under the right guys asses, having giving them a taste of the big show. Now they can go out and rack up some wins in s smaller promotion and have something motivating them for their next shot in the UFC.

MoTropolis- September 21, 2010 at 7:19 am

Good riddance Efrain! I called this shit last year. I knew this guy wasnt gonna stick around, he was way over hyped and his nick name sucks. I was more surprised by Duffee's last performance and subsequent release. Doesnt he remind you of one of those old don martin cartoons from MAD magazine??

hxxp://www.donmartinwebsite.com/

DiazBrotherFromAnotherMother- September 21, 2010 at 7:14 am

DUDE, what the fuck... fuck dana white. Efrain was sick and so was Duffee, they are both under 25 and have great careers in this sport ahead of them. i hope they do big things in other organizations, this is a loss for the ufc. and dana should be a little more forgiving on the weight issues, especially with someone whos 24 years old and their bodys probably still deciding what weight it feels comfortable at.

Videodrome_NOW- September 21, 2010 at 7:12 am

Alves missed weight twice and had a worse performance against Fitch than Efrain did against Oliveira, which I think is hilarious. I don't expect reasonability on the part of the UFC, but saying Escudero's 3-4lbs is worse than Alves', Anthony Johnsons' and DeMarques Johnsons' wight infractions, is being a little harsh on the poor little mexican.

thebassmaster- September 21, 2010 at 7:09 am

He'll be back as soon as they book a Mexican show.

ArmFarmer- September 21, 2010 at 7:09 am

Didn't look like he threw that fight to me.. looked like he was trying to destroy that fat slob he was fighting. I think he just got caught.. lucky punch.

Shane Darwin- September 21, 2010 at 6:53 am

Duffee got fired because he threw his fight.

jimbonics- September 21, 2010 at 6:47 am

Sheesh insult to injury...

Show up at the weigh-in's an embarrassing four pounds over weight.
Get 20% of your purse taken from you before you even step in the cage.
Lose your job.

Tough week for 'ol Efrain. Friggin' TUF Scrub.

Viva Hate- September 21, 2010 at 6:45 am

Any truth to the rumor that Strikeforce has a statue at their corporate headquarter that closely resembles the Statue of Liberty in a bikini with ridiculous implants and the poem
“Bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled fighters who cannot make weight. Bring me your rejects, your has beens, I will sign the now.”

ReX13- September 21, 2010 at 6:24 am

ben Says:

"Not to say that there isn't more to the Duffee story..."

***

Go on....?

ben- September 21, 2010 at 6:19 am

@ Maine Blazer: The "ass" thing was a misquote, due to a cut-off text message; full quote was "asset." Not to say that there isn't more to the Duffee story...

Maine Blazer- September 21, 2010 at 6:14 am

Duffee's release occurred weeks after his fight. I remember seeing that his own manager referred to Duffee as 'being an ass'.